Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $26,994/yr
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $26,994 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$26,994
$105,679 vs $78,685/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
84% lower
151.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 6 and Plano wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Aurora to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $412,500 median home), income ($78,685 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Plano, TX are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.